"From what I could see of his face, deformed is the best way I could describe it," said Allentown police patrol Sgt. John Hill, who first responded to the scene. "There was nothing I could do for him."

During a preliminary hearing today, Lehigh County District Judge David Harding ruled enough evidence exists for Trent's homicide charges to go to trial.

Wearing a blue prison jumpsuit, Trent watched the testimony with narrowed eyes. He did not speak except in occasional whispers to his public defender, Richard Webster.

During a past police interview, Trent said he was inside his apartment in the 700 block of South Hall Street when his girlfriend, Lisa Tracy, told him four people were damaging her car, according to Allentown Detective Amaury Almonte.

Trent claimed he went outside to confront the group, which included Devarie and three women, Almonte said. Trent said the women attacked him, punching him in the face and pulling his hair.

Trent told police that as Tracy tried to stop the women, Devarie punched him in the face and that he punched back, Almonte testified.

During that police interview, when detectives told him Devarie was dead, Almonte said Trent responded by saying only, "Wow."

The courtroom today was packed with dozens of people, including family members and friends for both the victim and defendant. None testified or spoke at the hearing.

Devarie suffered a large amount of injuries to the face, and a few to the torso, as well as a large amount of bleeding on the brain, according to Allentown Detective Raymond Ferraro.

Trent previously told police he only punched Devarie once, but later in the interview admitted he punched him twice, Almonte said.